Home appliance, ice maker



July 4, l

96 E. F. HUBACKER ETAL HOME APPLIANCE, ICE MAKER Filed Jan. 13, 1959 United Sta P t F v 2,990,692 HOME APPLIANCE, ICE MAKER Earl 11'. Hubacker and Roger M. Lockwood, Evansville, Ind assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 786,494 10 Claims. (CI. 62-71) This invention relates to an ice maker and in particular to means for ejecting an ice body in an automatic ice maker.

In ice body makers of the type disclosed in copending Robert W. Fink application Serial No. 609,623, filed September 13, 1956, and owned by the common assignee, ice bodies are formed in a mold having an inverted frustoconical cavity. To eject the ice body from the cavity, upon completion of the freezing process, a force is applied through the lower end of the cavity to the lower end of the ice body. Asthe ice bodies tend to adhere to the walls of the cavity, a substantial impact force is conventionally employed. Such a method of ejecting the ice body has the disadvantage of a bothersome noise, particularly where the device is used in a home refrigerator. Further, such an impact force delivers a substantial shock to the mechanism, substantially reducing the useful life of the elements. Where the impact force is directly mechanically delivered to the ice body, an appreciable percentage of the ice bodies is broken during the ejection process. One solution to the problem has been to use special 'linings to reduce the force with which the ice body is held by the cavity walls. The use of linings poses the additional problems of the cost thereof and necessary periodic replacement thereof.

Another disadvantage of known ejection means of this type is that relatively expensive means, such as a motor and associated gearing, have been required to provide the necessary ejection force. Additionally, the known ejection means have had the disadvantage of relatively large size.

The principal feature of the instant invention is the provision of a new and improved means for ejecting an ice bodyifrom a mold cavity avoiding the above discussed disadvantages.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a new and improved ejecting means arranged to eject the ice body by an application of fluid pressure thereon.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such means wherein the fluid pressure means is arranged to effect a forced multiplication whereby a substantial force applied to the ice body is produced by a small input force.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such means wherein a chamber is provided cornmunieating with the small end of the cavity and means are provided for melting, when desired, the portion of the frozen body of water in the chamber and in the cavity adjacent the small end thereof to provide a force transmitting body of fluid in the chamber and confronting the ice body at the lower end.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of such means including a piston rod movable through the chamber to develop a fluid pressure in the body of fiuid sufficient to break the ice body free of the cavity walls.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such'means having' new and improved means for controlling the operation thereof.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partially in section and p CC with portions thereof shown fragmentarily, of an apparatus embodying the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic and schematic view of the control means thereof.

Referring now more pan'ticularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a mold 10 is provided with an inverted frusto-conical cavity 11 having a large, open upper end 12 and a small, open lower end 13. A plate 14 is secured to the underside of mold 10 by suitable means such as screws 15 and is provided with a circular, transverse mid-portion 16 received in a downwardly opening recess 17 coaxial of cavity 11. Mid-portion 16 is provided, at its center, with a depending tubular portion 18 which defines a chamber 19 communicating at its upper end with cavity 11 through the small, lower end 13 of the cavity. A piston rod 20 is sealingly slidingly movable through tubular portion 18 and'is provided at its lower end with an enlargement 21. A helical coil spring 22 extends concentrically of piston rod 20 between mid-portion 16 of plate 14 and enlargement 21 to bias the piston rod downwardly relative to chamber 19. Concentrically mounted on tubular portion 18 in heat transfer association therewith is a helical heater coil 23' which, when energized, delivers heat through tubular portion 13 to chamber 19, and through circular mid-portion 16 of plate 14 to the lower end of cavity 11.

Piston rod 20 is urged upwardly by a lever 24 pivoted at one end 25 on a shaft 26 carried by a support 27, and provided at the opposite end with an enlarged hearing portion 28 which engages the underside of piston enlargement 21. Coil spring 22 urges enlargement 21 downwardly to pivot lever 24 to an extreme counterclockwise position, as seen in FIG. 1, wherein the lever abuts a stop 29.

A clockwise movement of lever 24 to effect a movement of piston rod 20 through chamber 19 is effected by a solenoid 30 having its plunger 31 connected to one end 32 of a lever 33. The mid-portion 34 of lever 33 is pivotally mounted on shaft 26 and the opposite end 35 of lever 33 is connected to lever 24 by a spring 36. A lug 37 upstands from lever 24 adjacent end 25 and is provided with a turned shoulder 38 which is engaged by lever 33 when lever 33 is pivoted by solenoid 30 in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 1. This causes lever 24 to be pivoted in a clockwise direction and urge piston rod 20 upwardly to effect an ejection operation as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Automatic filling of cavity 11 with water, subsequent to the ejection of a previously formed ice body I there-' from, is effected by a slug-type water valve 39 having any inlet plunger 40 and an outlet plunger 50. When solenoid 30 is energized to actuate piston rod 20, a measured amount of water is admitted to valve 39 by the opera tion of inlet plunger 40 as a result of the upward movement thereof by lever 33. When solenoid 30 is deenergized, upon completion of the ejection cycle, lever 33 pivots in a counterclockwise direction to release inlet plunger 40 and operate outlet plunger 50 to discharge the measured quantity of water from valve 39 through open top 12 of cavity 11 by suitable conduit means (not shown).

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 2, the operation of the instant ice body ejecting apparatus may be seen. Electrical power is supplied to the apparatus from a first lead L1 and a second lead L2. One side of solenoid 31 is connected to lead L2 and the other side of the solenoid is connected in series through a lead 40, a switch 41 arranged to be open whenever a predetermined amount of ice bodieshas been made in the apparatus and not removed therefrom, -a lead 42, heater 23, a thermostat switch 44 sensing the temperature within cavity 11 and arranged to close when the freezing of ice body I has been completed, and a lead 45 to lead L1. In" parallel with switch 41 is a holding switch 43 which is mounted on arm 24 and arranged to maintain the circuit during a momentary opening of switch 41, as during a determination of the number of ice bodies formed and ejected from cavity 11 but not removed from the apparatus.

The measured quantity of water is delivered from valve 39 to cavity 11" with piston rod 20 in the withdrawn position, as seen in FIG. 1. Thus, the water completely fills cavity 11 and the port-ion of chamber 19 above the withdrawn piston rod. The water is then frozen in each of cavity 11 and chamber 19 by suitable means (not shown) such as disclosed in the above indicated Fink application. When the water has been frozen to form an ice body I, thermostat switch 44 automatically closes. Assuming that the quantity of ice bodies previously made and not removed from association with the' apparatus is less than the maximum desired, switch 41 is closed and,

thus, solenoid 31 and heater 23 are concurrently ener-' gized. The energization of solenoid 30 immediately pivots lever 33 against the action of spring 36 into abutment with shoulder 38 on lever 24. This urges'bearing portion 28 of lever 24 upwardly against enlargement 21 of piston rod 20 and tends to move the piston rod upwardly through chamber 19. When suflicient heat has been transferred from heater coil 23 to the ice within chamber 19 and the lower portion of cavity '11 adjacent end 13 thereof, that portion of the ice melts and the resultant body of water hydrostatically transfers the upward urging'force of piston rod 20 to the bottom of ice body I. The cross sectional diameter of chamber 19 is substantially smaller than the cross sectional diameter of lower end 13 of cavity 11 and, result-ingly, a substantial force multiplication is obtained whereby a small force delivered from lever 24 produces a large force on the bottom of ice body I sufiicient to break the ice body free of the wall of cavity 11. Illustratively, chamber 19 may have a inch diameter and end 13 of the cavity may have a inch diameter giving a hydraulic force multiplication of 25 Once ice body I is broken free of the wall of cavity 11, spring 36 moves lever 24 in a clockwise direction, urging piston rod 20 through chamber '19 and lower end 13 of cavity -11 to the dotted position of FIG. 1. This movement occurs relatively rapidly and causes ice body I to be ejected upwardly through open end 12 of the cavity. The heat of coil 23 subsequently opens thermostat switch 44, thereby de-energizing solenoid 30, whereupon spring 22 forces piston rod 20 downwardly and restores lever 24 to the position of FIG. 1. The downward movement of lever 24 causes spring 36 to urge lever 33 in a counterclockwise direction into substantial alignment with lever 24. In this position, lever 33 urges outlet plunger 50 upwardly to open the outlet and deliver the measured charge of water to the now empty cavity 11. At the same time, inlet plunger 40 is permitted to move downwardly and close the inlet to valve 39. Valve 39 is maintained thusly until a succeeding ejection cycle wherein the inlet and outlet plungers are operated as described above to measure a predetermined quantity of Water, and deliver it to the cavity 11 subsequent to the ejection of the newly formed ice body I therefrom.

As the breaking of the ice body I from the walls of cavity -11 is effected by the hydrostatic pressure, only a slight noise is produced at that time. Severe impact shocks are avoided, thereby substantially increasing the useful life of the apparatus and reducing the maintenance thereof. As a uniform distribution of pressure is applied to the bottom of the ice body I, a substantial elimination of breakage of the ice bodies during'theejection cycle is obtained. Further, a relatively small and inexpensive force producing means maybe utilized, pe'rmitting*a reduction in the space requirements of the apparatus and effecting a-substantial saving in thecostthe-reof. The apparatus is completely automatic and, as aresultof its simple construction, assures substantial trouble-free life.

While we have shown and describe'd'one embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. p

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for ejecting an ice body from a mold cavity tapering from a large end to a smaller end, comprising: means defining a chamber communicating with the small end of the cavity; means for providing a fluid in the chamber and confronting the ice body at the small end of the cavity to have at least a portion of the fluid frozen in the chamber; means for converting the frozen fluid to liquid fluid; and means developing, when desired, a pressure in the converted liquid fluid suflicient to break the ice body free of the wall of the cavity and urge the ice body outwardly through the large end of the cavity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said last named means comprises a hydraulic piston means arranged to cause the force applied to the ice body to be a multiple of an input force delivered thereto.

3. Apparatus for ejecting an ice body from a mold cavity tapering from a large end to a smaller end, comprising: means defining a chamber communicating with the small end of the cavity; means for providing a fluid in the chamber and confronting the ice body at the small end of the cavity to have at least a portion of the fluid' frozen in the chamber; means for converting the frozen fluid to liquid fluid; and means extendible into said chamber, when desired, for displacing a portion of the converted liquid fluid therein'and thereby developing a pressure therein suflicient to break the ice body free of the wall of the cavity and urge the ice body outwardly through the large end of the cavity.

4. Apparatus for forming an ice body in and ejecting the ice body from a mold cavity tapering from a large end to a small end, comprising: means defining a chamber communicating with the small end of the cavity; means for delivering a body of water to the cavity and chamber; means for freezing the body of water in the cavity and chamber; means for melting, when desired, the portion of the frozen body of water in the chamber and in the cavity adjacent the small end, the remaining portion of the frozen body of water comprising the ice body to be ejected; and means developing, when desired, a pressure in the melted portion of the body of water suflicient to break the ice body free of the wall of the cavity and urge the ice body outwardly through the large end of the cavity.

5. Apparatus for forming an ice body in and ejecting the ice body from a mold cavity tapering from a large end to a small end, comprising: means defining a chamber communicating with the small end of the cavity; means for delivering a body of water to the cavity and chamber; means for freezing the body of water in the cavity and chamber; means for melting, when desired, the portion of the frozen body of water in the chamber and in the cavity adjacent the small end, the remaining portion of the frozen body of water comprising the ice body to be ejected; and means extendible into said chamber, when desired, for displacing a portion of the fluid therein and thereby developing a pressure in the melted portion of the body of water sufficient to break the ice body free of the wall of the cavity and urge the ice body outwardly through the large end of the cavity.

6. Apparatus for forming an ice body in and ejecting the ice body from a mold cavity tapering from a large end to a small end, comprising: means defining a chamber communicating with the small end of the cavity; means for delivering a body of water to the cavity and chamber; means for freezing the body of water in the cavity and chamber; means for melting, when desired, the portion of the frozen body of water in the chamber and in the cavity adjacent the small end, the remaining portion of the frozen body of water comprising the ice body to be ejected; and a rod movable sealingly through the means defining the chamber for displacing a portion of the fluid therein and thereby developing a pressure in the melted portion of the body of Water sufficient to break the ice body free of the wall of the cavity, and rod having an inner end movable through the small end of the cavity to engage the freed ice body and expel it from the cavity.

7. Apparatus for forming an ice body in and ejecting the ice body from a mold cavity tapering from a large end to a small end, comprising: means defining a cylindrical chamber communicating with the small end of the cavity, the transverse cross section of the chamber having an area substantially smaller than the transverse area of the small end of the cavity; means for delivering a body of water to the cavity and chamber; means for freezing the body of water in the cavity and chamber; means for melting, when desired, the portion of the frozen body of water in the chamber and in the cavity adjacent the small end, the remaining portion of the frozen body of water comprising the ice body to be ejected; and a rod movable sealingly through the means defining the chamber for displacing a portion of the fluid therein and thereby developing a pressure in the melted portion of the body of Water suflicient to break the ice body free of the wall of the cavity, the force applied to the rod being multiplied and directed against the ice body adjacent the small end of the cavity.

8. Apparatus for forming an ice body in and ejecting the ice body from a frnsto-conical cavity tapering from a large upper end to a small lower end, comprising: a member adapted to extend transversely across the open end of the cavity and provided With a central depending tubular portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lower end of the cavity; a piston rod having a sealing sliding fit in the tubular portion; means biasing the piston rod to a Withdrawn position; means for delivering a body of water to the cavity and tubular portion; means for freezing the body of water in the cavity and tubular portion; means for heating the member to melt ice formed in the tubular portion and below the ice body at the lower end of the cavity; and means for forcing the piston rod upwardly through the tubular portion, when desired, to

develop a fluid pressure in the melted ice suificient to break the ice body free of the wall of the cavity and urge the ice body outwardly through the large end of the cavity.

9. Apparatus for forming an ice body in and ejecting the ice body from a frusto-conical cavity tapering from a large upper end to a small lower end, comprising: a member adapted to extend transversely across the open end of the cavity and provided with a central depending tubular portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lower end of the cavity; a piston rod having a sealing sliding fit in the tubular portion; means biasing the piston rod to a withdrawn position; means for delivering a body of water to the cavity and tubular portion; means for freezing the body of water in the cavity and tubular portion; means for heating the member to melt ice formed in the tubular portion and below the ice body at the lower end of the cavity; and solenoid operated means for forcing the piston rod upwardly through the tubular portion, when desired, to develop a fluid pressure in the melted ice suflicient to break the ice body free of the wall of the cavity and urge the ice body outwardly through the large end of the cavity.

-10. The method of providing ice bodies, comprising the steps of: freezing an ice body in a cavity of a mold having an open end; melting a portion of the ice body in contact only with a portion of the mold opposite the open end; and causing a fluid pressure to be built up in the melted portion of the ice body suflicient to break the ice ice body tree from the mold and permit removal of the ice body from the mold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 191,256 Riker May 29, 1877 r 1,870,370 Marchant Aug. 9, 1932 2,071,465 Huber Feb. 23, 1937 2,240,463 Schlumbohm Apr. 29, 1941 2,374,997 Hill May 1, 1945 2,422,772 Bohn June 24, 1947 2,542,891 Bayston Feb. 20, 1951 2,571,506 Watt Oct. 16, 1951 2,595,588 Lee May 6, 1952 2,639,594 Watt May 26, 1953 2,763,996 Lees Sept. 25, 1956 

